Pl i fPlanning for Sustainable Water Supplies
in Illinois
Environmental Horizons Sustainability SummitApril 24, 2008
Allen Wehrmann, P.E., Director
Center for Groundwater Science
Illinois State Water Survey IL Dept Natural ResourcesIllinois State Water Survey, IL Dept. Natural Resources
Pl i fPlanning for Sustainable Water Supplies
in Illinois
Environmental Horizons Sustainability SummitApril 24, 2008
Allen Wehrmann, P.E., DirectorCenter for Groundwater Science
Illinois State Water Survey, University of Illinoisy y
Acknowledgment
My Colleagues & Partnersat the
Illinois State Water Survey &Illinois State Geological Surveyg y
The Water Cycle
Climate, surface water, and groundwater are linked
Illinois Water Use – Quick Facts
Total water withdrawals ~2.8 bgdS f t ithd l ~1 9 b dSurface water withdrawals ~1.9 bgdTotal groundwater withdrawals ~0.9 bgdR hl lit b t d/ l & b d kRoughly split between sand/gravel & bedrock sources~ 500 mgd for public and domestic supply~ 200+ mgd for irrigation (mostly sand/gravel) 200+ mgd for irrigation (mostly sand/gravel)
~ 1800 community water supply facilities~ 1200 of those use groundwater 1200 of those use groundwaterLake Michigan provides 900 mgd to Chicago & 140 other systems in Cook, DuPage and Lake Counties
Water Withdrawals in Illinois (million gallons/day)
Surface GroundTotal
Water WaterTotal
Domestic & Public Water Supply 1,450 500 1,950
Self‐Supplied Industry 420 180 600
Livestock & Irrigation 2 234 236
Thermoelectric 17,100 10 17,110
TOTAL 19,000 925 19,900, ,
New potential ethanol demands will require 30 – 70 MGD
Executive Order 2006‐01
•Three year planning initiative ending June 2009
•$5 million over three years
•Includes $1.5 million for local planning grants
Executive Order 2006‐01
Governor’s Executive Order calls on IDNR‐Office of Water Resources,
Executive Order 2006 01
in conjunction with State Geological and Water Surveys, to:
1) Create a comprehensive program for state and regional watersupply planning & implementation
2) Initiate public review of a strategic plan for a water supply planning and management program
3) Establish a scientific basis & an administrative framework for implementation of state and regional water supply planning and management
4) Encourage creation of locally based regional water supply4) Encourage creation of locally‐based regional water supply planning committees
5) By June 30, 2009 have regional water quantity plans for
2 priority planning areas2 priority planning areas
Two priority planning areas have been established:Northeast IllinoisEast‐Central IllinoisEast Central Illinois
Two locally based water planning committeesplanning committees have been established
h i i iEach committee is nearing completion of water demandscenarios to 2050
The Mahomet Aquifer Region
Morton
Peoria
WatsekaWOODFORDCO
FORD0 8 12 16 204
NORTH
PekinNormal
Bloomington` PaxtonHoopeston
MCLEAN COCHAMPAIGN CO
FORD CO IROQUOIS CO
VERMILION CO
MILESGibson City
TAZEWELL CO
Havana
Lincoln Clinton Champaign Urbana
Rantoul
DanvilleMASON CO
MENARD CO
LOGAN CO
MCLEAN CO
MahometDEWITT CO
Petersburg
Decatur
Monticello
p gCASS CO
MACON CO
PIATT CO
Proposed ethanol plants using
Bedrock “high” – aquifer absent
SpringfieldProposed ethanol plants usingMahomet Aquifer as principal source
Geology of the Mahomet Aquifer
Vertical Slice along the Mahomet Valley Thalweg
Note lack of 3D geologic detail on model’s eastern portion
2005 Regional Community Groundwater Use
Water Use (gpd)
A 60 000Argenta 60,000
Forsyth 410,000
Illinois American Water Co 23 200 000Illinois‐American Water Co. 23,200,000
Mahomet 540,000
Monticello 720 000Monticello 720,000
Normal 4,290,000
Rantoul 1,670,000Rantoul 1,670,000
White Heath 60,000
15‐County Total Community Groundwater Use 70,210,000y y , ,
Mahomet Aquifer Water Levels (Head) near Champaign
660
640
eet
620
wate
r el
evat
ion,
fe
600
Grou
ndw
580
Top of aquifer ~550’ msl
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Head Decline a Response to Groundwater Pumpagep p g
24
20on
s pe
r day
16
paig
n, m
illio
n ga
llo
12
Pum
page
at C
ham
4
8P
~0.3 mgd/year increase
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
4
Industrial Wells
Potentiometric Surface of E t P ti f thEastern Portion of the Mahomet Aquifer, 2005
Rantoul
Champaign-Urbana Danville
Monticello
Predicted Drawdown from IL‐Am Wellfield, 2005
Uncalibrated Model Results
Ethanol Plants Proposing to Use the Mahomet Aquifer
Morton
Peoria
WatsekaWOODFORDCO
FORD0 8 12 16 204
NORTH
PekinNormal
Bloomington` PaxtonHoopeston
MCLEAN COCHAMPAIGN CO
FORD CO IROQUOIS CO
VERMILION CO
MILESGibson City
TAZEWELL CO
Havana
Lincoln Clinton Champaign Urbana
Rantoul
DanvilleMASON CO
MENARD CO
LOGAN CO
MCLEAN CO
MahometDEWITT CO
Petersburg
Decatur
Monticello
p gCASS CO
MACON CO
PIATT CO
Proposed ethanol plants using
Bedrock “high” – aquifer absent
SpringfieldProposed ethanol plants usingMahomet Aquifer as principal source
Water Sources for Public Supply inPublic Supply in Northeast Illinois
Lake Michigan900 mgd
Inland surface waters60 mgd
Shallow & Deep Groundwater160 mgd
Graphic courtesy of Kane County
A Regional Flow Model Being Developed for NE IllinoisIllinoisRegional Model DomainApprox. 800,000 nodesMax grid spacing 16 miMax grid spacing 16 mi.Min grid spacing 2,500 ft.All aquifers from land surface to basement
granite
Groundwater Sustainability
“…development and use of groundwater in a manner that can be maintained for an indefinite time without causing unacceptable environmental, economic, or social consequences.”
USGS Circular 1186, 1999
Water Sustainability
“the condition of beneficially using water supply y g pp yresources in such a way that the uses support current
and probable future needs, while simultaneously insuringthat the resources are not unacceptably damaged ”that the resources are not unacceptably damaged.
Unacceptable damage is defined as a change in an important physicalproperty of the ground or surface water system (e g level qualityproperty of the ground or surface water system (e.g., level, quality,temperature, recharge rate) that approaches a significant % of the
normal range of variability.
Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission
Sustainability Recognizes:• Present & future generations• The value of water supply• The value of water supply• Shared responsibilities• Limits of water• Limits of water• Stewardship• Maintaining the integrity of societal & ecological• Maintaining the integrity of societal & ecological systems
• Adaptability to deal with uncertainties & riskAdaptability to deal with uncertainties & risk• Critical examination of terms like “reasonable use” and “no adverse impacts”p
Challenges for Illinois Water Resource Sustainability
Estimating availability: need for more & better data g y(e.g., geologic maps, water levels, hydraulic properties, flows) and analytical tools (e.g., models)D d f ti ( l ti i t )Demand forecasting (population, economic, etc.)Influence of climate variability and change on recharge & demand& demandWater quality and contamination, treatment optionsWater lawWater resource management, including conservation and reuse
Visit us on the web! Illinois State Water Survey Home Page is:
http://www.sws.uiuc.eduOr Google: Illinois State Water Survey